The 2022 NFL Draft is now just over a week away.
With that in mind, analytics site Pro Football Focus named 17 "underrated prospects" who could potentially go off the board earlier than most expect.
PFF's Doug Kyed spotlighted eight offensive players and nine on defense, including two Montana State linebackers: Troy Andersen and Daniel Hardy. Of Andersen, Kyed wrote that the Montana native has a "fascinating story."
He started his college career at running back, moved to quarterback, then switched to running back/linebacker before flipping to defense full time in 2021. He has ideal size and athleticism for a linebacker at 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, and he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash (98thpercentile) with a 1.49-second 10-yard split (100th), 6.77-second three-cone, 4.07-second short shuttle, 36-inch vertical leap (73rd) and 10-foot-8 broad jump (95th).
Andersen will likely be a second-round pick, per multiple sources, though one source believes he could sneak into the first round.
Hardy, meanwhile, is likely a Day 3 pick with some upside. Kyed noted he's garnered interest from a number of NFL teams.
Hardy began his college career at linebacker before moving to the edge in 2021. He earned an 86.3 pass-rush grade and registered 77 total pressures, including 17 sacks, 14 quarterback hits and 46 hurries in 2021.
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Hardy was clocked at 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 1.57-second 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical leap, 10-foot-7 broad jump and 6.71-second three-cone.
Among Kyed's tabbed offensive players were four offensive linemen, including a name familiar to Big Ten fans, Nebraska center Cam Jurgens.
Jurgens is another scout's favorite. One source projected him for the second round.
He didn't allow a sack in 2021 and tested extremely well, running a 4.92-second 40-yard dash (96thpercentile) with a 1.71-second 10-yard split (92nd), 34-inch vertical leap (6th), 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump (100th), 4.49-second short shuttle (84th) and 7.19-second 3-cone drill (99th) at 6-foot-3, 304 pounds.
To see Kyed's full list, click here.
New 'Sunday Night Football' broadcast team announced
For the first time in years, Al Michaels and Michele Tafoya will not be part of the Sunday Night Football broadcast crew.
Michaels was hired by Amazon to do play-by-play of Thursday Night Football games, and Tafoya retired from the sidelines after the 2021 season.
NBC Sports recently revealed the new broadcast team.
Cris Collinsworth will return as color commentator, while Mike Tirico will replace Michaels in the play-by-play position. Melissa Stark will take over Tafoya's sideline role.
The Associated Press wrote:
Stark served as sideline reporter for ABC's "Monday Night Football" for three seasons (2000-02) and has been a host and reporter for NFL Network since 2011.
Collinsworth will be entering his 14th season on Sunday Night Football. He and Tirico have teamed to call 21 NFL games (19 regular season, two preseason) since 2016.
Tirico will be entering his 17thconsecutive season calling NFL games. He has anchored NBC's coverage of the Olympics, Triple Crown horse racing, golf's U.S. Open, and the Indianapolis 500 along with major football shows.
View the best photos of Vikings WR K.J. Osborn from the 2021 season.
K.J. Osborn hosting free football camp in Michigan
Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn is giving back this offseason to youngsters back home.
The 2020 fifth-round draft pick announced that he and Seahawks tight end Tyler Mabry are hosting a free youth football camp in their hometown of Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Osborn noted that he and Mabry have dreamt about playing in the NFL and "[pouring] back into our hometown" since the sixth grade.
The camp will host 150 middle-school students and is scheduled for Saturday, June 11.